Hussey leads Australia rally against England

Michael Hussey once more oversaw an Australia revival as the world champions made 277 for five in the fifth and final one-day international against England at Lord's here on Saturday.

Australia, who'd already lost the series, were struggling at 106 for four when Hussey came to the crease but the experienced left-hander's 79 helped keep the tourists' hopes of reducing England's winning margin to 3-2 alive.

Hussey was initially content to play second fiddle to Shaun Marsh, his fellow left-hander, in a fifth wicket stand of 107.

Marsh, only playing because vice-captain Michael Clarke was out with a back injury, made 59 off 50 balls.

Hussey, whose run-a-ball fifty featured just two boundaries, cut loose after reaching the landmark and hoisted seamer Tim Bresnan for a huge six.

He then reverse-swept paceman James Anderson for four to bring up a fifty stand in 25 balls with Steven Smith.

Both Smith and Hussey, who faced 60 balls with two sixes and five fours, were out to Stuart Broad in the final over as the fast bowler finished with the slightly flattering figures of four for 64 off his maximum 10 overs.

Grame Swann was the pick of England's attack with three for 32 yet the off-spinner only bowled eight overs.

The 26-year-old Marsh, in his 27th ODI, played himself as Australia went 81 balls without a boundary.

But Marsh, the son of former Australia opener Geoff, struck two in as many deliveries off Broad in the batting powerplay to spark a flurry of runs as Australia scored 115 in the final 10 overs of their innings.

Marsh drove Anderson, whose 10 overs cost 75 runs, for six to bring up a hundred stand with Hussey.

But going for another big hit, off Swann, he was well caught by Eoin Morgan, running round the boundary at long-off.

All of Australia's top four made starts but only opener Tim Paine, with 54, posted a sizeable score after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss.

Ponting, fresh from his 92 in Australia's 78-run win at The Oval on Wednesday, got off the mark in superb style with a backfoot forcing shot through the covers for four off Broad.

He followed that up with by on-driving Bresnan to the boundary and then, advancing down the pitch, played an even better shot to straight drive Anderson for a four that sped to the rope.

However, Ponting has been vulnerable to the hook in recent times and it proved his doing again.

Trying to play the shot against Broad, he was late on the stroke and out for 15 after gloving a catch through to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter in what could be the 35-year-old's final one-day innings at Lord's.

Swann once more took a wicket in his first over in a spell of two for one in eight balls.

Cameron White (20) tried to break free with a lofted drive off Swann's second ball but instead holed out to Michael Yardy before Paine dragged a reverse sweep onto his stumps.